Well pumping unit



June 9, 1931. R. c. BAKER 1,809,101

WELL PUMPING UNIT Filed sept. 21. 1927 2 sheets-sheen 1 -mun June 9, 1931. R, C, BAKER 1,809,101

WELL PUMPING UNIT Filed Sept. 21, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 N VEN TOR. 6 73a BY f ,2M ZALvL/@q TTORNEYS.

Patented June 9, 193i UNITED STATES imam PATENT OFFlGE REUBEN C. BAKER, OF COALINGA, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR T BAKER OIL TOOLS, INC., 0F HUNTINGTON PARK, CALIFORNIA, A CDRPORATION OF CALIFORNIA WELL PUMPING UNIT Application led September 21, 1927. Serial No. 220,996.

This invention relates to deep well pumping apparatusand particularly pertains to a pumping unit for operating deep well pumps.

It is the principal obj ect of the present invention to provide a generally improved pumping unit for deep well pumps by means of which the well load may be fully counterbalanced so as to minimize the power eX- pended in operating the pump.

In carrying out the invention into practice l provide a comparatively inexpensive pumping unit for pumping deep wells which can be set up at the well in a comparatively short period of time and which takes up but very little space. This is a considerable improvement over prior structures and methods which either entailed leaving the drilling equipment at the Well to do the pumping or equipping the well with a pumping jack operated from a central power plant. The present invention contemplates the provision of an oscillatory walking beam, the strokes of which are reversed by means of a reciprocable crosshead, the latter of which `is driven by any suitable power plant. I also provide a reciprocable counterweight which is operatively associated with the crosshead through the medium of a body of fluid so that any force exerted on the crosshead by the well load will be neutralized bythe counter'- weight.

One form which the invention may assume is exemplified in the following 4description and illustrated by `w'ay'of example in the accompanying drawings,l in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a pumping unit embodying the preferred form of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section taken eentrally through the pumping unit disclosed in Fi 1.

Re erring more particularly to the accompanying drawings, 10 indicates a base structure which may be mounted on a suitable foundation contiguous to the mouth of a well 11. The base 10 may be constructed in any suitable manner and is here shown as formed of longitudinal channel beams 12 connected by transverse members 14 to form a substantially rectangular base. Mounted on the base is a pair of bearings 15 carrying a drive shaft 16 upon which a pulley 17 v'is keyed or otherwise secured.

To drive the drive shaft 16 a belt 18 is connected with the pulley 17 and With a pulley 19 secured on the shaft of an electric motor 20. This latter is suitably supported by the base 10. It is tobe understood, however, that any other suitable type of power plant or power drive may be substituted for that just described without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Also secured on the drive shaft 16 is a pinion 21 which is in mesh with a gear 22 secured on a jack shaft 23. This shaft 23 extends transversely of the base 10 and is journalled in suitable bearings 24 carried by the base. Extending vertically of the base adjacent the jack shaft 23 is a crosshead guide structure 25 within which a crosshead 26 is guided for vertical reciprocation. To reci rocate this crosshead 26, at its opposite ends it is connected with a pair of connecting rods 27 which are vertically disposed and which are connected at their opposite ends to crank arms 28 carried at the outer ends of the jack shaft 23.

It is obvious, therefore, that when the m0- tor 20 is placed in operation it will, through the medium of the pulleys 19 and 17 and the belt 18, drive the pinion 21 which will in turn revolve the jack shaft 23 through the medium of the gear 22. Rotation of theshaft 23 will revolve the crank arms 28 and the rotary movement of these arms28 will be translated into vertical reciprocation of the crosshead through the medium of the connecting rods 27.

At theend of the base opposite the crosshead guide structure 25 is a walking beam compensating anchor 29 which comprises a pair of vertical members pivotally secured at their lower ends to the base structure-10. At its upper end the Walking beam compensating anchor 29 is pivotally connected to one end of a horizontally disposed walking beam 30. This walking beam 30 extends longitudinally of the frame to a point beyond the crosshead guide structure 25, and over the well l1.

It will also be noticed from the drawings that the walking beam 30 eXtends between the two side portions ofthe crosshead guide structure 25 so as to bear on the crosshead 26.

It is intended that vertical reciprocation of the crosshead oscillates the walking beam about its pivotal connection with its compensating anchor. That is to say, upward movement of the crosshead 26 will be transmitted to the walking beam 30, and when the crosshead 26 is lowered the well load will cause the walking beam to descend.

The connection between the crosshead and the walking beam comprises a semi-cylindrical bearing member 3l on the underside of the walking beam which bears in a complemental recess on the top of the crosshead 26. Due to the fact that the walking beam compensating anchor 29,is pivoted both to the frame and to the walking beam, the bearlng 3l on the walking beam will travel in a path parallel to the path of travel of the crosshead 26.

It is obvious, therefore, that when the crosshead 26 moves upwardly that the forward end of the walking beam will be elevated and that when the crosshead comlnences to descend, the weight of the well load on the end of the walking beam will cause the latter to descend in unison with the crosshead.

Reference being had to Fig. 2, it will be seen that the forward end of the walking beam is fitted with a bearing pad 32 through which the sucker rod 33 of the well pump extends. Above the bearing pad 32 of the walking beam, the sucker rod is fitted with f a bearing member 34 which bears on the bearing pad 32 of the walking beam.

I intend to provide counter-balancing means forl fully counterbalancing the well load so that the power plant of the pumping unit will be merely called upon to reciprocate the crosshead, and through it oscillate the walking beam. I- accomplish this by providing a pair of cylinders 35 and 36 which are supported in a verticalposition by the base 10. The lower ends of the cylinders commzunicate through the medium of a conduit 3 The cylinder 35 is disposed directly beneath the crosshead 26 and reciprocably mounted in the 'cylinder is a plunger or piston 38 which is connected to the crosshead 26 by a pitman, so that vertical reciprocation of the crosshead 26 will cause the piston 38 to vertically reciprocate in the cylinder 35.

Reciprocably mounted in the cylinder36 is the 4piston 40 having a vertically extending pitman 41. This pitman is connected at its end with. a guide sleeve 42 telescoping over the upper end of the cylinder 36. Mounted on this guide sleeve 42 is a counterweight 43 which is intended to bc of the same weight as the well load.

In the cylinders 35 and 36 and in the conduit 37 is a body of liquid or fluid which acts as a medium to cause the pistons in the dilferent cylinders to operate in unison. That is to say, when the walking beam 30 is moved downwardly due to the weight of the well load, this force will be transmitted to the piston 38 and through the fluid to the piston 40, tending to raise the counterweight 43. As this counterweight is of the same weight as the well loa d, the well load will be fully counterbalanced and the only load imposed on the power plant 2O will'be the force necessary to reciprocate the crosshead 26.

In operation ot' the device, it is constructed and assembled substantially as illustrated a nd described and mounted in cooperative relation to a deep well. The walking beam is then connected to the sucker rod of the well pump and the motor 20 is placed in operation. This, as previously described, causes the crosshead 26 to be vertically reciprocated through the medium of the mechanical elements mentioned.

Upon upward movement of the crosshead, the piston 38 in cylinder 35 will elevate and the counterweight 43 will cause the piston 40 to follow the descending liquid level in the cylinder 36. As the counterweight 43 will be constantly exerting its weight on the column of fluid in the cylinder 36, and as the counterweight is substantially of the same'weight as the well load, the motor 20 willvbe able to elevate the crosshead 26 without having the Well load imposed thereon, as the force exerted against the piston 38 to elevate it will be the same as the resistance of the well load to the elevation of the crosshead.

In descending, the well load will be transferred through the crosshead 26 to the piston 38 and this force through the fluid will be transmitted to the piston 40 in cylinder 36, and lowering movement of the piston 38 will be resisted by the weight of the counterweight 43 connected with the piston 40. Therefore, the counterweight 43 will neutralize the well load and consequently relieve the power plant of all unnecessary load.

I may prefer to incase the gears Within a housing so that they may be run in lubricant. Likewise, I may provide anti-friction bearings or the different parts so that the amount of power expended in operating the pumping unit will be minimized.

From thethe foregoing it is obvious that I I have provided a pumping unit requiring a minimum of power for operation due to the fact that the well load may be fully counterbalanced. Likewise, I desire to point out to become out of order or in need of repairs and adjustments.

It is obvious that it is only necessary to maintain the plungers or pistons properly packed to prevent the fluid from leaking by the plungers to maintain the structure in perfect operating condition. I also desire to point out that the weight of the counter- Weight 43 may be changedv to suit the well load, as it is only necessary to estimate the well load and either increase or reduce the counterweight mounted on the sleeve 42. ,i

lVhile I have shown the preferred formi-of my invention, it is to be understood that various changes may be made in its construction by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention, as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1s:

1. A pumping unit comprising an oscillatory walking beam pivoted at one end and adapted to be connected at the free end with the sucker rod of a pump to operate the same, a reciprocable crosshead operatively `associated with the `walking beam adjacent the free end to operate the same, a pair of communicating cylinders confining al body of fluid, a counterweight slidable on one of said cylinders and unconnected with the walking beam, a piston in each cylinder, said'pistons being opposed, one piston being connected to the crosshead, the other piston being connected to the counterweight whereby la load imposed on the crosshead will be neutralized by the weight of the counterweight.

2. A pumping unit comprising a substantially horizontally arranged walking beam pivoted at one end and adapted to be connected at the free end with the sucker rod of a pump and to be oscillated to operate the pump, a crosshead guided for vertical reciprocation and connected with the walking beam adjacent the free\end thereof to operate the walking beam, a power plant operatively connected with the crosshead to vertically reciprocate the same, a vertically reciprocable counterweight unconnected with the walking beam, intercommunicating Huidconining cylinders, and pistons therein connected With respectively the counterweight and the crosshead to operatively associate the same whereby a load imposed upon the crosshead will be neutralized by the weight of the counterweight.

3. A well pumping unit comprising a base,

structure, a vertically arranged member pivoted to the base structure and extending vertically therefrom, `a horizontally disposed walking beam pivoted at one end to the upper end of said vertically arranged member, the other end of the walking bear being adapted to be operatively connected to the sucker rod of a, pump to operate the same,

a crosshead guided for vertical reciprocation and operatively connected jwith the walking beam adjacent the free end thereof to oscillate the same, a power plant operatively connected with the crosshead for reciprocating .the same, a counterWeight guided for vertical reciprocation and unconnected with the walking beam, a pair of vertically arranged and communicating cylin ders confining a body of fluid, a piston in each cylinder, said pistons being opposed, one piston being connected with the crosshead beneath the walking beam vadjacent the free end thereof, the other piston being connected with the counterweight whereby the weight of the counterweight will neutralize the load placed on the crosshead through the walking beam.

4. A pumping unit comprising an oscillatory walking beam arranged in substantially a horizontal plane and pivoted at one end and adapted to be operatively connected adjacent its free end to the sucker rod of a pump to operate the same, a crosshead adapted to reciprocate in a vertical plane and operatively associated with .the walking beam adjacent the free end thereof to operate the same, a counterweight unconnected with the walking beam and adapted to reciprocate vertically, a pair of vertically arranged cylinders disposed one adjacent the crosshead and `one adjacent the counterweight, the lower ends of said cylinders being in communication through a conduit, fluid confined within said cylinders, a piston inserted within the upper end of each cylinder, one piston being connected with the crosshead adjacent the free end of the walking beam, the other piston being connected with the counterweight whereby a load imposed upon the crosshead will be neutralized by the counterweight.

5. A well pumping unit comprising a base structure, a compensa-ting anchor pivoted at its lower end to the base structure, a walking beam arranged horizontally and pivoted at one end to the upper end of the compensating anchor, a crosshead guide arranged Vertically at the end of the basestructure opposite the compensating anchor and adjacent the free end of the walking beam, a crosshead guided for vertical reciprocation in said guide and connected with the cross-head adjacent the free endthereof, an electric motor supported by the base,ia drive shaft journalled on the base, a drive connection between themotor and said drive shaft, a counter shaft journalled on the base, gears connecting the drive shaft to the countershaft crank arms on the'drive shaft, connecting rods connecting said crank arms to the crosshead whereby operation of the motor will 'vertically reciprocate the crosshead, and a counterweight unconnected with the walking adjacent the free end thereof, an electricV motor supported by the base, a drive shaft journalled on the base, a drive connection between the motor and said drive shaft, a countershaft journalled on the base, gears connecting the drive shaft to the countershaft crank arms on the drive shaft, connecting rods connectlng sald crank arms to the cross- .hea-d whereby operation of the motor will vertically `reciprocate the crosshead, a coun-l terweight guided for vertical reciprocation on the base, a pair of vertical cylinders ar-V ranged one adJacent the crosshead and one -adjacent the counterweight, said cylinders being connected at their lower ends by a conduit, uid confined in said cylinders, and a piston in each cylinder, said pistons being opposed, one piston being connected with the l crosshead, one piston being connected to the counterweight' whereby the wei ht of the counterweight will neutralize the load placed on the crosshead.

7. A pumping unit comprising an oscillatory walking beam arranged in substantially a horizontal position and pivoted at one end and adapted to be operatively connected at its free end to the sucker rod of a pump to operate the same, a crosshead connected with the walking beam adjacent the free end thereof, a pair of vertically arranged cylinders conning a body of iiuid, one of the cylinders being located below the said crosshead, a piston inserted within the upper end of each cylinder, one piston being connected with the crosshead, a guide sleeve telescoping A the other cylinder and connected with the piston thereof, and a counterbalancing weight mounted upon the guide sleeve.

8. A pumping unit comprising a base, a fixed guide at one end of the base, a pivoted anchor at the opposite end of the base, a walking beam pivoted at one end to the anchor and having its opposite end engaging the xed guide, a crosshead mounted on the guide and engaging the walking beam 'adjacent its free end, a motor on the base, connecting means between the motor and cross Y head, cylinders at opposite ends of the base, a conduit connecting the cylinders, a coun'- 

